We’re pleased to announce Roger Corman as the recipient of the TCFF Michigan Filmmaker Award.

A Detroit native, B-movie legend Roger Corman is one of Hollywood’s most prolific talents, with well over 400 credits to his name as a writer, actor, producer, and director. He is the winner of the Honorary Academy Award for his rich engendering of films and filmmakers.

You can check out all the film’s in our Roger Corman section here, and he’ll sit down with another Hollywood rebel, Michael Moore, on Sunday, August 2.

Our own Katy Gwizdala was able to speak with Mr. Corman about how he got his start, growing up in Michigan, and mentoring today’s film industry giants.

First of all, congratulations on adding the Michigan Filmmaker Award to your long list of accolades.

Thank you!

Why choose cult classics and B-movies as the genre you’ve worked the most with? Is it your passion, or did you find out you’re very, very good at it and stick with it?

I started making low-budget films simply because that’s all the money I had. I had written a screenplay and sold it, and I took that money and made a very low-budget picture “Monster from the Ocean Floor” for $12,000. I primarily finance my pictures myself and since I don’t have that much money, I’m not about to make “Jurassic World” or anything like that. So I stay in the area in which I’m comfortable financing my own films.

When you think about all of the incredible talent you’ve worked with, like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Robert DeNiro – what’s your secret for discovering them? How do you look at Jack Nicholson and see that eventually, he’s going to become the Jack Nicholson we know today?

…There are three things I look for. One is intelligence. I’ve never met anybody, and I’m thinking more as writer, producer, director, who’s had a long successful career that hasn’t had intelligence. There have been a few who’ve had one or two winners but haven’t maintained it that haven’t been so intelligent. But I look for that particularly.

The second is the ability to work long, hard hours. Making films is to a certain extent glamorous, but it’s also a very hard job.

And the third is the intangible, and that’s creativity. One of the ways that you can judge it a little bit is just by talking to a person, and how their mind works — what they say and how they analyze certain things. And to a large extent, I try to work with people who start – such as Francis Coppola, started as my assistant and did second unit directing, editing, one thing or another. He even did carpentry on building some racks for storage equipment on a Volkswagen MiniBus we used for locations shooting. So I’m able to judge the creativity that way, with Francis or with other people like Jim Cameron or Jonathan Demme, or whoever who started with us that way. Other times, somebody like Marty Scorsese, I resisted talking to him and saw an underground black & white film he did in New York. Just judging from that, I thought Marty had the required creativity.

Another widely known fact about you is your cameo career – do you have a favorite story from a film you’ve acted in?

Yes, as a matter of fact. One of the first times I did, in “Godfather Part II,” Francis Coppola had me play one of the Senators on the Senate Crime Investigating Committee and I remember there were so many lights — I’d always been behind the camera, and of course this is a big-budget film, and… I couldn’t see anything at all out there. And when the assistant director said “roll ‘em” and the camera was running, but before Francis could say “action,” somebody yelled out of the dark “don’t get nervous Rog, but your entire career in Hollywood depends on how you say these lines!” It was Jack Nicholson, who by prearrangement with Francis had come over from another sound stage where he was working to throw me off. And make me triple nervous on the first take. Read More →

TCFF is proud to welcome its ninth full-time intern class! Each year, the festival gathers a group of excited and energetic young professionals to work in a collaborative environment as interns. They perform a variety of tasks critical to running the festival, gain valuable career experience, and spend their summer in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Seriously, we couldn’t do it without them! Here’s a look at this summer’s 17 full-time interns:

Ally Telgenhof

Department: Film PrepCollege/Year: Michigan State University / AlumnaFavorite Movie/Director: Wizard of Oz / Quentin TarantinoWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Anything by Led ZeppelinWho would star as you in a movie: Amanda Bynes

Andrea Thompson

Department: Public Relations & MediaCollege/Year: Michigan State University / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: The Prestige / Christopher NolanWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Stacy’s Mom by Fountains of WayneWho would star as you in a movie: Blake Lively

Breanna Randolph

Department: Event PlanningCollege/Year: Bowling Green State University / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: The Princess Bride / The Coen BrothersWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Hold On by Wilson PhillipsWho would star as you in a movie: Kate Winslet

Daniel Choppa

Department: MusicCollege/Year: Northeastern University / JuniorFavorite Movie/Director: Secondhand Lions / Christopher NolanWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Anything 80sWho would star as you in a movie: Dave Franco

Emma Winowiecki

Department: Post-ProductionCollege/Year: University of Michigan / JuniorFavorite Movie/Director: When Harry Met Sally / Wes AndersonWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: American Pie by Don McLeanWho would star as you in a movie: Emma Watson

Jake Wallach

Department: Video Post / Graphic DesignCollege/Year: University of Missouri / AlumnusFavorite Movie/Director: The Departed / Martin Charles ScorseseWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: In Too Deep by Sum 41Who would star as you in a movie: A better looking Leonardo DiCaprio

John MacLellan

Department: MusicCollege/Year: Concordia University (Canada) / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: Interstellar / Quentin TarantinoWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Just a FriendWho would star as you in a movie: Will Smith

Kelsey Rammelkamp

Department: Box OfficeCollege/Year: Carthage College / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: Midnight in Paris / Woody AllenWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Anything by Taylor SwiftWho would star as you in a movie: Keira Knightley

Kirk Ostojic

Department: Film PrepCollege/Year: Central Michigan University / AlumnusFavorite Movie/Director: Lord of the Rings Trilogy / Christopher NolanWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Bohemian Rhapsody by QueenWho would star as you in a movie: Michael Fassbender

Maggie Marshall

Department: OfficeCollege/Year: University of Michigan / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: Pan’s Labyrinth / Lars von TrierWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Smells like Teen Spirit by NirvanaWho would star as you in a movie: Emma Stone

Moriah Angott

Department: Office/Volunteer ManagementCollege/Year: Bowling Green State University / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: Slumdog Millionaire / Tim BurtonWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Uptown Funk by Bruno MarsWho would star as you in a movie: Zooey Deschanel

Nina Capuzzi

Department: Public Relations & MediaCollege/Year: Michigan State University / SophomoreFavorite Movie/Director: Boyhood / Alfonso CuaronWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Come On Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight RunnersWho would star as you in a movie: Betty White

Samantha Rohrs

Department: OfficeCollege/Year: Kent State University / AlumnaFavorite Movie/Director: There Will Be Blood / Martin ScorseseWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Say My Name by Destiny’s ChildWho would star as you in a movie: Meryl Streep

Savannah Smith

Department: Video PostCollege/Year: Michigan State University / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: Beginners / Celine SciammaWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Everytime by Britney SpearsWho would star as you in a movie: Quvenzhané Wallis

Shennelle Anthony

Department: Graphic DesignCollege/Year: Michigan State University / AlumnaFavorite Movie/Director: The Man in the Moon / Tim BurtonWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: BBHM by RihannaWho would star as you in a movie: Rihanna

Gina Bollini

Department: Music & Parties LiaisonCollege/Year: Oakland University / SeniorFavorite Movie/Director: Blue is the Warmest Color / Abdellatif KechicheWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Grease SoundtrackWho would star as you in a movie: Miley Cyrus

Katelyn Catino

Department: Kids FestCollege/Year: Northern Michigan College / SophomoreFavorite Movie/Director: The Graduate / John HughesWhat would you sing at Karaoke night: Anything by Aretha FranklinWho would star as you in a movie: Emma Stone

As you prepare to enjoy the arrival of the moveable feast of film that is the Traverse City Film Festival, let me highlight a few wonderful, hidden gems you’ll find within the guide. Very often it’s the films you’ve never heard of, the films you don’t think you’ll enjoy while you are being dragged into them, that make the most lasting impressions. I hope you will leave your comfort zone and take the risk to see a brillant movie at this year’s festival. Here are a few of my special picks– but there are many, many more! Check them all inside the guide. And I’ll see you at the movies!

BREAKING A MONSTER — An amazing doc about a group of African American kids from Brooklyn who form a heavy metal band–and what happens when the music industry gets its hands on them.

20 YEARS OF MADNESS — A charming look at some Oakland County boys who had their own cable access show in the 1990s. Now they’re grown up, hoping lightning will strike twice. Yes it’s pure Michigan.

THE ARMOR OF LIGHT — The story of an anti-abortion preacher who is devastated by the murder of an abortion doctor and decides to focus on the NRA and preventing easy access to guns.

THE STATE-MAFIA PACT— Sabina Guzzanti’s latest comes to TC: a scathing look at the connection between the Mafia and the Italian government.

THE TRIALS OF SPRING— Gini Reticker has created THE definitive film on the Arab Spring Revolution in Egypt. An amazing record of what happened as seen through the eyes of three different women.

FEAR NOT THE PATH OF TRUTH — One of the most uncomfortable films you will see at this year’s fest: a veteran of the Iraq War picks up a movie camera and decides to go see what Americans know about the war he fought in. You won’t be able to take your eyes off of it. “Thank you for your service!” Yeah, right.

THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD — The filmmaker’s dad was a Kennedy Democrat until one day, he turned on AM radio, and, um, he “changed.” It’s the universal story about a white guy in everyone’s family who has something he wants to get off his chest at Thanksgiving dinner.

(T)ERROR — Homeland Security has to stay in business, so here’s a powerful film about how they need to create “terrorists” so they’ll have someone to arrest. Whoa.

THE CHINESE MAYOR— Imagine somebody says, let’s build a US-31 bypass around TC, or build a high-speed rail line between TC and Detroit. If this was China, and the star of this film was our mayor, both jobs would be done by December. Double whoa!

THE DIPLOMAT—An intense and beautiful look at one of the most important US diplomats in modern times, Richard Holbrooke. Filmmaker David Holbrooke, his son, will be in attendance.

CHALLAT OF TUNIS— A fiction film shot in documentary style about a (supposed) assailant who targets Tunisian women who don’t dress in religious clothing. One of the best foreign films I’ve seen this year.

HOLBROOK/TWAIN— Hal Holbrook travels the country in his 90s as Mark Twain, bringing Twain’s scathing, hilarious turths to the American public– all of them still so relevant, 120 years later. Don’t miss this one!

TANGERINE—A compelling indie shot entirely on an iPhone, and it’s every bit as good as one shot for $100 million bucks.

TANGERINES—(plural) Nominated for a Best Foreign Film Academy Award this year, and a favorite of mine!

HOT TYPE: 150 YEARS OF THE NATION — The great Barbara Kopple returns to Traverse City with her engaging film about The Nation magazine and the people who made it the top journal of the left. Staff members of The Nation will be in attendance for a lively discussion afterward.

ROSEANNE FOR PRESIDENT—A great, funny film by Eric Weinrib (the first State Theatre manager when we reopened it in 2007!). Given unprecedented access to Roseanne Barr, you will see a side of this remarkable artist never seen before anywhere. And that’s saying a lot.

LISTEN TO ME MARLON — There’s nothing like this in the festival. Marlon Brando kept an audio diary throughout his life, so he himself narrates this fascinating documentary. It’s on my shortlist for best doc of the year.

POVERTY, INC— Once you see it, you won’t look at poverty or the Third World the same way again.

Here it is. The official schedule for this summer’s 11th annual Traverse City Film Festival.

Here are a few of the highlights you won’t want to miss:

Most important: The kick-off to the State Theatre Centennial Year! One Hundred Years on Front Street! And joining us to celebrate this special event will be none other than the great actress and daughter of Charlie Chaplin, GERALDINE CHAPLIN! She will dedicate our new cornerstone and flip the switch on a year’s worth of amazing cinema at the State. She will also introduce and take questions at two of her father’s films that are celebrating their centennial: “The Tramp” and “Kid Auto Races at Venice.” And she will present Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” on its 75th anniversary in the Open Space on Wednesday night.

In addition to recreating the experience of going to the movies back in 1916, we’re also toasting some of Hollywood’s greatest including:

The 40th Anniversary of Robert Altman’s “Nashville” with Robert Altman‘s wife Kathryn and members of the original cast in attendance.

The 30th Anniversary of “The Breakfast Club” — this year’s winner of the Open Space People’s Choice vote!

And finally, in honor of this morning’s historic Supreme Court’s ruling on LGBTQ rights, we will mark this momentous occasion at the festival
with a celebration of films that tell the stories and perspectives of a heretofore shunned community. Some of the greatest movies of all time were made by LGBTQ filmmakers who lived in fear of being “discovered.” Showing their films here in Traverse City is us continuing to do our part
in putting an end to that kind of hate and intolerance. This art form would not be what it is without the contributions made gays and lesbians
who work in this industry, and this festival is all the richer thanks to our volunteers who are part of Michigan’s LGBTQ community.

Are you curious what movies will be at the Traverse City Film Festival this year when the schedule is announced on Friday, June 26? Well, so are our interns. Because of their hard work we rewarded them with a sneak preview of a potential TCFF movie. Watch the video below to meet this year’s intern class and see their reactions.

Whether it’s a tiny atomic change in your brain or a big bang in your heart, one great movie can change you.

And with that we are proud to present the official 2015 poster, created by our incredible volunteer Art Director Gabriel Augustine. If the poster sets the tone for the year, then we couldn’t be more excited for what 2015 has in store.

And while you’re taking in its beauty, wonder, and majesty, see if you can identify the hidden film and pop culture-related “easter eggs,” and then enter our contest.

Those who correctly identify the most easter eggs will be entered to win two tickets to the 2015 TCFF Opening Night Party and a copy of the poster. To enter, send your name, phone number, email address, and list of easter eggs to eastereggs@tcff.org. (Hint: There are at least 10.)

Grab some friends and a blanket, because our magical cinema under the stars will return once again to the Open Space this summer. And it wouldn’t be our free nightly movie series without our annual People’s Choice Night — the night we allow you, the people, to decide what’s shown on our 65-foot inflatable screen set against the beautiful Traverse City bayfront.

Everyone has a favorite movie, a movie they return to again and again, year after year. Well, imagine getting to experience it like you’ve never seen it before!

So let your voice be heard and help us pick what the community will come together to watch on Friday, July 31. This year’s choices include: “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” “The Breakfast Club,” “The Hunger Games,” “Poltergeist” (1982), “Say Anything…,” and “Zoolander.” Voters can also write in their own pick.

Voting Has Now Closed. Stay Tuned for the Results!

The People’s Choice movie, along with all films to be shown at this year’s festival, will be announced on Friday, June 26. Open Space Park, on the corner of Union St. and Grandview Parkway, is one of Traverse City’s most beautiful and treasured public gathering spaces, an ideal venue to enjoy a free outdoor movie as well as the very best summertime fun Northern Michigan has to offer.

The Traverse City Film Festival and its 11-year sponsor, FIM Group, invite filmmakers of all ages to submit to the sixth annual TCFF Bumper Contest for a chance to win cash prizes, including a Grand Prize of $1,000.

A wonderful opportunity for aspiring and enthusiastic filmmakers looking to strut their stuff, and a great summer vacation project, bumpers are 20 to 60 second short films designed to play before festival feature presentations. The top bumpers submitted to the contest will be shown on screen during the 11th Annual Traverse City Film Festival and the very best will be eligible for cash prizes, including the $1,000 Grand Prize.

The festival is looking for creative and fun pieces that capture the spirit of both the festival and Traverse City — it’s beauty and movie savvy. Let your imagination run wild.

The Traverse City Film Festival is seeking awesome, fun-loving people to join our team as Volunteer Managers for the 2015 festival! Please stop by our Volunteer Manager Open House on Wednesday, June 24 at 6 pm in the Basement Conference Rooms of the Park Place Hotel (300 E. State Street). We would love to meet you! If you can’t make it, please call 231-392-1134 or email volunteer@tcff.org. Interested parties should also feel free to email volunteer@tcff.org in advance of the Open House. We would love to get you on board now!

Why Be a Manager?

TCFF volunteer managers are the core of our amazingly talented, incredibly devoted, and super fun festival family. The festival couldn’t run without the many managers who spend part of their summer in the most beautiful place on earth working with the best team on planet. Friendships forged under fire last forever! Create something meaningful for the community, meet new people, spend time with friends and family, and gain invaluable experience. Help us put on the best festival in the world and have tons of fun along the way! For more information, please visit TCFF Volunteer Managers.

Open Positions:

We have roles and venues available to meet almost any interest and commitment level.

Volunteer Coordinator

Help us manage the 100s of incredible volunteers who come together each summer to create the ultimate celebration of cinema. In this position, you’ll get to know the amazing volunteers from around the area and world who make this all possible. Key duties include sending out mass communications to volunteers regarding upcoming events and shift/signup available and responding to volunteer email inquires with the assistance of an office intern. You’ll also be involved in helping place volunteers and managers in specific roles while keeping an eye on how shifts are filling up. Responsibility, organization, great social skills, fantastic communication, a sense of adventure, and a commitment to your community are desired.

Green Room Manager

Go behind-the-scenes and join our amazing hospitality team. Provide festival guests and visiting filmmakers with a comfortable and well-stocked green room for them to relax in before, during, and after their screenings. The Green Room manager is responsible for helping schedule green room volunteer attendants and coordinating the pickup and delivery of food and beverage across venues. Organization, friendliness, ability to read a situation, an eye for styling a space, and professionalism are key. Read More →

Big thanks to MovieMaker Magazine for including us on their annual list of the “25 Coolest Film Festivals” in the world! Citing the grandeur of our home venue, the State Theatre, our programming, and one of the world’s most unique moviegoing experiences, Movies of a Boat, we join the ranks of a very eclectic list that includes South by Southwest, Seattle International Film Festival, Sidewalk Film Festival, and Stanley Film Festival.